Monday, September 25, 2006

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Formula

Head on over to Baby Cheapskate to get the tutorial you need on store brand formula versus the "good stuff." Are store brand formulas just as good as their brand name competitors or are we being duped? This blog entry has some very valuable information in it.

Now on the market are many organic baby formulas. Just what is the difference between the organic stuff and their other counterparts? Her blog entry shares all of the information you need to justify whether or not you should be buying this expensive formula.

When I had a visit with a dietician a few months ago, for low blood sugar, I was deciding whether or not I wanted to continue nursing my daughter. She was draining me and I have never felt worse in my life. After five bouts of thrush, two cases of mastitis, and plugged milk ducts, low blood sugar, and feeling like I was going to die, I was debating on whether or not I was dedicated enough to continue. Needless to say, the dietician agreed that it might be a good move for me to make the switch to formula. We had children just a few weeks apart and she had switched at six months to formula. Curious to see if being a dietician influenced her decision to buy the brand name versus the store brand, I went ahead and asked her what she purchased. She said that she did extensive label checking and discovered that the store brand that she felt was closest to the big name stuff was...Target store brand formula. Walmart, although cheaper, did not fit the bill as closely as this store brand. I found it interesting information and being as frugal as I am, I am always wanting to know how to get the best stuff for the cheapest price.

I admit, I buy the Walmart brand and my daughter is as healthy as a horse. She is happy and her momma is happy too. We love Parent's Choice formula and it is the cheapest brand that I have found.

Feel free to share your experience with store brand formula, organic formula, or the brand name stuff.

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9Comments:

Blogger amelia
"I switched to formula t 6 months too, and store brand didn't even cross my mind. With baby #2 however, I think I will give store brand a try! Thanks for linking to this article."

at 7:33 PM  

Anonymous Angie
"Thanks for the mention, Amy! Love ya!

Interesting what your dietician said about Target brand formula vs. Walmart, since PBM nutritionals makes both. I wonder if there's any "tweaking" the recipe according to which store it's going to. Could't find any info on that.

I have to say that now that it sure is nice to be buying whole milk now that I have a toddler. No mixing and measuring! And it's cheaper!!!"

at 8:23 PM  

Anonymous Marva
"Amy,
It is great that you can save by buying store brand.

I would just like to remind everyone even if you have "healthy" babies, check with your peditrician before switching formulas. Yes, I know that most recommend the name brand. Just ask to make sure there is no medical issues with using a diferent one.

I have 6 mo. old premie twins and I do HAVE to use SIMILAC, due to health issues. One is allergic to enzymes in the powder, that is not in the ready to feed (despite it has to be hypoallergenic and of a pre-digested sort). I do get samples at the peds office and coupons. I also get gift checks from Similac. If I need extra savings I buy on sale and use the coupons I purchase on Ebay. I NEVER pay more than $2 for a 32 oz. rtf bottle (it sales for about $9 including tax regularly). My other twin is on Similac Advance w/ Iron. It is much easier to use the rtf w/ him. They both take cereal in their botles because of severe GERD, powder is also harder to mix w/ cereal in a bottle (more especially when both need one right then). Okay about the other twin, His is regularly $6 w/ tax 32oz. rtf). CVS had it on sale last week, I got 24 - 32 oz bottles (rtf) for $33.60 (that is 768 oz. of formula). I did use coupons and gift checks but it is doable."

at 9:35 AM  

Blogger Ashli
"I used Parents Choice formula with both my children. They are growing fine and have always been very healthy. My pediatrician said that Parents Choice was fine and she even fed it to her baby.
Ashli"

at 2:39 PM  

Anonymous Mike
"I think I read somewhere that there are only really just a handful of formula companies. The big 3 and then another one that makes all the generics. They are all regulated by the same rules and produce pretty much the same thing. But marketing makes the more expensive stuff seem so much better for your kids.

We used Wal-Mart brand from the day we brought them home and our kids are happy, healthy, tall, and crazy."

at 2:58 PM  

Anonymous kailani
"My doctor gave us free samples of Enfamil and that's all we've ever used. Sure made it simple for us!

Here via Carnival of Family Life."

at 3:58 PM  

Anonymous Melanie
"I am also using the Parent's Choice formula from Walmart for my 3 week old son. The hospital started him out on Similac ... and he had no problems with it... but the price was unreal! (about $23 per can) So, after careful comparison of ingredients, etc, I gradually switched to Parent's Choice formula. (which is only about $11 per can) He is doing fantastic .... and we are saving a bundle of money at the same time."

at 2:46 PM  

Anonymous Jamison
"My wife and I were in Target today. OUr son is 4 months and my wifes supply had been drained so we were feeding him enfamil ($$$) so I looked at the target brand and I may be blind, but the ingredients are identical. We will try the target brand (half the price!)"

at 1:59 PM  

Anonymous Melissa
"I have a 3 month old son. I used Enfamil Pro Lipil coming out of the hospital. I switched for financial reasons to Wal Mart brand, then to Similac, then to Gentle Release. But all those formulas either made him too fussy or he threw up everywhere. I didnt know what else to do so I switched him back to Enfamil. Hes been fine ever since. So I m sure there are some differences."

at 12:49 AM  

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